Grate-protector.



W. A. BAKER.

GRATE PROTECTOE.'

APPLICATION FILED my. 4, 1912.

1,044,970. Ptented Nov. 19, 1912.

.E'IELI COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

WILLIAM A. BAKER, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

GRATE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

Application filed January 4, 1912. Serial No. 669,388.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM A. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Grate-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for preventing the burning out of grates in solid fuel furnaces.

This invention has utility when connected up as a mechanism operated by ash accumulation to look a portion of the furnace movable in normal use of the furnace.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing an embodiment of the invention therein; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device as embodied in the structure in Fig. 1.

The furnace 1 is provided wit-h the fire door 2 freely movable in normal operation of the furnace for charging the combustion chamber with fuel upon the grate bars 3 above the ash pit 4:. Disposed in an inclined position in the ash pit and extending under that portion of the grate which is subjected to the greatest usage is an inclined member or auxiliary pan 5 having at its lower forward end a rocker bearing 6 resting on a seat 7 transversely of the ash pit or primary ash pan 4. The after end of the member 5 is normally held in a lifted position by one or more arms 8 pivoted at 9 and having rigid with each thereof arm 10 connected to bar 11 having counterweight 12 thereon to maintain the pan 5 lifted against slight loading with ashes. As there is ash accumulation in the member 5, counterweight 12 is overcome and the pan 5 settles, thus rocking the angle lever 8, 10, to throw the bar 11 and thus cause link 13 to rock the arm 14; provided with pivot 15 and having rigid therewith the arm 16 so that arms 14, 16, form an angle lever. This rocking of the angle lever 14, 16, pushes upward the link 17 having ball joint 18 connected to arm 19 fixed to pin 20 extending through the furnace front and having rigid therewith the arm 21 which by this movement is rocked to swing in front of the edge of the fire door or movable furnace member 2 and thus hold the fire door in locked position until the ashes are removed from the pan 5 and the mechanism operates to lift the pan up and simultaneously move arm 21 to unlock the fire door 2. By this device the fireman has an indicator outside the furnace directly telling him whether or not his ash pit needs cleaning and the mechanism is all disposed within the furnace so that it may not be tampered with during normal furnace operation. There is accordingly insured a furnace with a freedom from neglect of removing ashes from the pan so that there need not be ash accumulation to radiate heat below the grate bars and thus destroy them. There is further an avoidance of reduced air space between the ash accumulation in the ash pit and the grates above, thus additionally preventing deterioration of both grates and linings from this source. 7

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a fire pot provided with a fuel feed opening, a fire door for said opening, a grate in the fire pot, an ash pit below the grate and means in the ash pit normally disconnected from the fire door and movable by a predetermined amount of ash accumulation in the ash pit to preclude opening of the fire door, whereby the grate is protected from the accumulation of any undue amount of ash in the ash pit.

2. The combination in a furnace of a fire pot provided with a fuel feed opening, a door for said opening, a grate in the fire pot, an ash pit below the grate, ash accumulation actuated means in said ash pit, and connections from said means operable by said means receiving a predetermined amount of ash accumulation, and a lock for the door, to which look said connections extend, said connections being concealed within the furnace during assembled furnace operation, whereby the means, connections and lock may protect the grate from the accumulation of any undue amount of ash in the ash pit.

3. The combination in a furnace of a fire pot provided with a fuel feed opening, a grate in the fire pot, a movable ash receiving member below the grate, a lock actuable by the member, a movable furnace member normally independent of the lock disposed by its movement to permit supply of fuel to the fire pot through said fuel feed opening, said lock movable by a predetermined amount of ash accumulation in the ash receiving member to engage and hold said movable furnace member to preclude movedetermined amount of ash accumulation settling the auxiliary ash pan, whereby the grate is protected from the accumulation of any undue amount of ash in the ash pit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. BAKER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. BRADY, GEO. E. KIRK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

